Evolution Of Communication - 96 edition

"Few writers have so far even attempted a general overview of animal communication, so Marc Hauser's book is timely if not overdue. Hauser brings to the task a formidable knowledge of the field (his bibliography contains some 1,500 items) plus a lucid style and an infectious enthusiasm that carry one smoothly through an immense maze of information and make complex biological theories accessible even to the uninitiated. For anyone concerned with the comparative study of communication, this book is likely to remain an indispensable source for some time to come."

-- Derek Bickerton, Nature

The MIT Press Web Site, April, 2000

Preface

Acknowledgments


1 Synopsis of the Argument

1.1 General Comments
1.2 Some Background Information
1.2.1 Communication and Information
1.2.2 The Comparative Method: Which Species to Compare and What to Conclude?
1.3 Outline of the Book

2 The Evolution of Communication: Historical Overview

2.1 Introduction
2.2 The Design of Natural Communication Systems
2.3 Language Evolution: Linguists Take a Look
2.3.1 Uniqueness
2.3.2 Noam Chomsky
2.3.3 Derek Bickerton
2.3.4 Philip Lieberman
2.3.5 Charles Hockett
2.3.6 Steven Pinker
2.3.7 Summary
2.4 Language Evolution: Biologists Take a Look
2.4.1 General Comments
2.4.2 Peter Marler
2.4.3 W. John Smith
2.5 Synthesis

3 Conceptual Issues in the Study of Communication

3.1 Signals Designed for a Complex Environment
3.1.1 The Ecology of Signal Transmission
3.1.2 The Ecology of Signal Detection
3.2.3 Adaption and Signal Design
3.2 Problems of Similarity and Classification
3.2.1 The Concept of Similarity
3.2.2 Similarity and Classification
3.2.3 Units of Analysis and Their Classification in Communication
3.3 Potential Fruits of Tinbergen's Research Design

4 Neurobiological Design and Communication

4.1 Introduction
4.2 Mating Signals: Frogs and Birds
4.2.1 Anuran Advertisement Calls
4.2.2 Avian Song
4.3 Survival Signals: Bats
4.3.1 Bat Echolocation: The Problem
4.4 Social Signals: Nonhuman and Human Primates
4.4.1 Nonhuman Primate Vocalizations: General
4.4.2 Human Language
4.4.3 Facial Expression and Perception in Primates

5 Ontogenetic Design and Communication

5.1 Introduction
5.2 Mating Signals: Birds
5.2.1 Avian Song
5.3 Survival Signals: Squirrels and Primates
5.3.1 Ground Squirrel Alarms
5.3.2 Vervet Monkey Alarm Calls
5.4 Social Signals: Primates
5.4.1 Nonhuman Primate Vocalizations
5.4.2 Human Spoken Language
5.4.3 Human Sign Language
5.4.4 Facial and Gestural Expressions in Primates

6 Adaptive Design and Communication

6.1 Introduction
6.2 Mating Signals: Frogs, Birds, and Primates
6.2.1 Anuran Advertisement Calls
6.2.2 Avian Advertisement Calls
6.2.3 Primate Copulation Calls and Sexual Swellings
6.3 Survival Signals: Insects, Birds, Squirrels, and Primates
6.3.1 Alarm Signals
6.3.2 Warning Colors
6.3.3 Food-Associated Signals
6.4 Social Signals: Birds and Primates
6.4.1 Dominance Signals and Cues

7 Psychological Design and Communication

7.1 Introduction
7.2 Conveying Information
7.2.1 Information about Affective State
7.2.2 Information about the External Environment
7.3 Categorizing Information
7.3.1 Categorization of Predators
7.3.2 Categorical Perception of Vocal Signals
7.3.3 Categorization of Faces and Facial Expressions in Nonhuman Primates
7.3.4 Categorization of the Inanimate and Animate World
7.3.5 Cross-Modal Perception
7.4 Mindful Manipulation of Information
7.4.1 Functional Deception in Nonhuman Animals: Theoretical Issues
7.4.2 Empirical Evidence of Functional Deception in Nonhuman Animals
7.4.3 Empirical Evidence of Intentional Deception in Nonhuman Animals
7.4.4 The Human Child's Discovery of Mind
7.4.5 The Human Adult's Capacity for Intentional Deception

8 Comparative Communication: Future Directions

8.1 Introduction
8.2 Some Burning Issues
8.2.1 A Socioecologically Sensible Neuroscience
8.2.2 What Do Nonhuman Animal Vocalizations Mean? A Starter's Kit
8.2.3 A Comparative Method for All: Looking Time
8.3 How to Build Communicating Organisms: Thinking Like an Evolutionary Engineer
8.4 Final Remarks

References
Index